TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an Enrollment Site Agreement between the City of Long Beach and the State of California Department of Public Health, to provide AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) services for the period of July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2016. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) has provided services through the California AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). This program, established in 1987, assists uninsured or under-insured HIV positive individuals with access to medications used to treat the disease, and assists with the prevention of the spread of HIV and the onset of related opportunistic infections.
The Health Department's annual efforts ensure that approximately 8,000 medications are dispensed by community pharmacies to individuals living with HIV. These disease controlling medications total more than $3 million. Without continued access to these medications, the mortality and morbidity of those living with HIV, and the transmission and acquisition of HIV, would be gravely increased.
The Health Department, through a separate agreement with the State ADAP program already in place, is able to claim reimbursement for the provision of ADAP services. However, the State of California Department of Public Health (State) now requires that agencies who provide these services also enter into an Enrollment Site Agreement. Although there is no direct funding to the City of Long Beach associated with the execution of this site agreement, the ADAP program provides more than $3 million in payments directly to participating community pharmacies, covering the costs of these vital medications.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney, Amy Webber on July 21, 2014 and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on July 25, 2014.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on August 12, 2014 in order to comply with this new State requirement.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with the execution of this agreement. However participation in this program provides over $3 million in funding to community pharmacies participating in this program. No match or in-kind service mandate is required, and there is no local job impact associated with this action.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
KELLY COLOPY
DIRECTOR
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER